COURSE SYLLABUS
SCOPE OF COURSE SYLLABUS
Intended for students enrolling in Strategic Thinking and Decision Analysis, this syllabus contains information specific to the course. It is a definitive record of the course's primary characteristics and the learning outcomes that a typical student can reasonably be expected to achieve if he/she takes full advantage of the available learning opportunities. This document also serves as a reference for academic and support staff, internal and external examiners, and for future course monitoring and review.
COURSE AT A GLANCE
Course Title
Strategic Thinking and Decision Analysis
Subject Area:
Management
Course Code
MGMT 61111
Course Level
Graduate
Credits
5.0
Prerequisites
None
Methods of Delivery
Online
Expected Length
7.0 Weeks
Class Meetings
To be determined
Faculty
To be determined
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Computer Software: Any computer software that aids learning.
TEXT(S)
Text 1: DAMJ
Title: Decision Analysis for Management Judgment
Author(s): Paul Goodwin and George Wright
Edition: 5th
ISBN: 9781118889251
Text 2: SP
Title: Strategy in Practice: A Practitioner's Guide to Strategic Thinking
Author(s): George Tovstiga
Edition: 3rd
ISBN: 9781119121671
SYNOPSIS
This course offers a comprehensive understanding of decision analysis methods, with a focus on the psychological problems related to managerial decision-making and the strategies needed to overcome them. The latest edition of the course has been updated to reflect the most recent developments in the field, making it a valuable resource for those in today's business and economic climate.
In the aftermath of the global economic crisis, exploring new ways of thinking about strategy is important. This course provides the latest theoretical concepts in strategic management, allowing strategy practitioners to take a systematic approach to strategic thinking. By establishing the relevance of strategy theory to its application in the practice field, this course helps practitioners develop a deep understanding of the strategic landscape on a meaningful level.
The strategic thinking process is complex, but this course guides students through it step-by-step in a logical, easy-to-comprehend format that all students will be able to engage with. Starting with formulating compelling and clear strategic questions, students are then provided with strategic analysis tools and informed intuition to help them understand the strategic landscape with a holistic perspective. Overall, this course is invaluable for anyone looking to strengthen their strategic thinking skills in a pragmatic, focused manner.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:
TBD.
WEEK 1
Module 1
Strategic Thinking
Reference(s): SP Ch1-2
Module 2
Insight-Driven Strategic Analysis
Reference(s): SP Ch3-4
WEEK 2
Module 3
High-Level, “Big-Picture”, and Supporting-Level Strategic Analysis
Reference(s): SP Ch5-6
Module 4
Strategy Formation, Evaluation of Strategic Options, Execution, and Performance Appraisal
Reference(s): SP Ch7-9
WEEK 3
Module 5
Decisions involving Multiple Objectives
Reference(s): DAMJ Ch1-4
Module 6
Introduction to Probability and Heuristics and Biases in Probability Assessment
Reference(s): DAMJ Ch5, Ch10 , and Ch11
WEEK 4
Module 7
Decision Making under Uncertainty and Risk and Uncertainty Management
Reference(s): DAMJ Ch6 and Ch12
Module 8
Decision trees and influence diagrams
Reference(s): DAMJ Ch7
WEEK 5
Module 9
Applying Simulation to Decision Problem
Reference(s): DAMJ Ch8
Module 10
Revising Judgments in the Light of New Information
Reference(s): DAMJ Ch9
WEEK 6
Module 11
Decisions Involving Groups of Individuals
Reference(s): DAMJ Ch13
Module 12
Resource Allocation and Negotiation Problems
Reference(s): DAMJ Ch14
WEEK 7
Module 13
Decision Framing, Cognitive Inertia, Scenario Planning, and Decision Analysis
Reference(s): DAMJ Ch15-17
Module 14
Alternative Decision-support Systems
Reference(s): DAMJ Ch18
PROFESSIONALISM
WEIGHT: 10.0%
DEADLINE: 23:59 (GMT+0) on Sunday of Week 7
All students are expected to participate in all types of classroom activities. Regular attendance is required in order to maximize the number of opportunities to engage in classroom activities. Marks are based on the quality of the contributions made rather than the quantity of posts submitted, comments made in class, etc.
Students are encouraged to exchange contact information and support one another should any classes be missed. They are advised to contact the course instructor about any concerns they may have.
END-OF-BLOCK QUIZ
WEIGHT: 10.0%
DEADLINE: 23:59 (GMT+0) on Sunday of Week 1-5
General Information
Each week from Week 1 to Week 5, students must complete one graded quiz with ten (10) multiple-choice questions. These assessments aim to determine the level of comprehension and mastery of the material covered each week from Week 1 to Week 5. The deadline to submit this assessment is always on Sunday at 23:59 (GMT+0) each week from Week 1 to Week 5. Quiz assignments are graded by computer, and the grade is stored in the online grade book. Only one 20-minute attempt per quiz is allowed.
END-OF-BLOCK QUIZ 1
Weight: 2.0%
Deadline: 23:59 (GMT+0) on Sunday of Week 1
END-OF-BLOCK QUIZ 2
Weight: 2.0%
Deadline: 23:59 (GMT+0) on Sunday of Week 2
END-OF-BLOCK QUIZ 3
Weight: 2.0%
Deadline: 23:59 (GMT+0) on Sunday of Week 3
END-OF-BLOCK QUIZ 4
Weight: 2.0%
Deadline: 23:59 (GMT+0) on Sunday of Week 4
END-OF-BLOCK QUIZ 5
Weight: 2.0%
Deadline: 23:59 (GMT+0) on Sunday of Week 5
END-OF-COURSE QUIZ
WEIGHT: 20.0%
DEADLINE: 23:59 (GMT+0) on Sunday of Week 7
General Information
In Week 7, students must complete one graded quiz consisting of thirty (30) multiple-choice questions. This assessment aims to determine the level of comprehension and mastery of the material covered over seven weeks. The deadline to submit this assessment is always on Sunday at 23:59 (GMT+0) of Week 7. Quiz assignments are graded by computer, and the grade is stored in the online grade book. Only one 60-minute attempt per quiz is allowed.
RESEARCH PAPER
WEIGHT: 60.0%
DEADLINE: Sunday at 23:59 (GMT+0) of Week 7
General Information
This must be twelve pages (approximately three thousand words) not including references, title page, and appendix. The purpose of this assessment is to determine the level of comprehension and mastery of the material covered over five weeks, focusing on the practical aspects of the course. The deadline to submit this assessment is always on Sunday at 23:59 (GMT+0) of Week 7. The grade is stored in the online grade book. As only one attempt per piece of coursework is allowed, it is highly recommended that students review all course materials and complete some test preparation tasks before attempting the graded assessment.
PARTICIPATION POLICY
All students are required to participate in all classroom activities, attend classes regularly, and prepare before classes for classroom activities that require advance preparation. Students need to fully appreciate that good attendance results in more opportunities to engage in quality participation, which, in turn, results in a more thorough acquisition of subject knowledge and higher participation grades.
Participation in classroom discussions and other types of activities indicates that students have read the assigned readings. Grades will not be based on the number of posts submitted or comments made in the classroom but on the overall quality of contributions to discussions.
If a student is unable to attend 3 or more classes, he/she may be asked to complete additional assignments to complete the course.
Modes of Attendance
For the portions of the course that take place over Microsoft Teams: Students are required to arrive on time and engage appropriately with their fellow students, their teacher(s) and course materials. They must attend with a functional web camera and microphone, have the latest version of Microsoft Teams installed on their computers, avoid attending via a mobile phone or web browser, and have all necessary materials to hand. Also, their cameras must be always switched on, except for occasions when privacy becomes a necessity. In addition, they must be appropriately attired, attend in an environment that will not distract them, their fellow students or their teacher(s), especially avoiding attending while in a vehicle, whether moving or stationary.
For the on-campus portions of the course: The mandatory on-campus session meets as per the AUS Campus Schedule. Good attendance is required to earn credits and pass the course. Students are not permitted to arrive late for class or leave class early. Students traveling from far away locations must plan accordingly, giving themselves plenty of time to arrive by the start of class.
Classroom Expectations
Classes start and end on time, with late entry or reentry allowed only under exceptional circumstances. All phones and electronic devices must be turned off for the duration of a class.
GRADING
Students are expected to read assigned materials prior to class. Class discussions are based on their reading of these materials and their reflections on what they have learned and how these relate to their experiences. Assignments are intended to encourage students’ reflection on and synthesis of assigned topics and course discussions.
Assessments are listed in the course syllabus and are due by the stipulated deadlines. No assessment will be accepted after the day following the day it is due. If an assessment submission is one day late, it will receive an automatic reduction in grade of one letter (for example from an A to a B). After that, no late work will be accepted, and the student will receive an F grade for the assessment.
Late submission of papers must be approved in advance.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY
Students are responsible for understanding the University Policies and how to use resources appropriately. Violations of academic integrity are taken very seriously. Students should revisit the materials on the Orientation session to review important information pertaining to academic citation and referencing rules.
STUDENT WELFARE AND PRIVACY POLICY
The university is committed to student welfare and accommodates students with disabilities and those who fall ill. Disability Services (DS) is responsible for accommodating students with disabilities. A student who wishes to be granted a special arrangement due to a disability or illness must request it through DS. Instructors cannot grant such requests without prior DS approval. DS should be contacted as soon as possible to avoid delays in the provision of such an arrangement.
Because the university takes student privacy very seriously, any medical documentation to support a request for an arrangement to accommodate any special needs connected with a disability or illness should be provided directly to DS. If a student misses any classes due to a short-term illness, he/she should notify his/her instructor, but avoid the inclusion of a doctor's note. Academic staff will not request, accept, or review doctor's notes or other forms of medical documentation. For more information, email DS@TheAUS.us.
USE OF COURSE MATERIALS AND LECTURES
Ethical considerations restrict how course materials and lectures may be used. Students may not post, publish, sell, or otherwise publicly distribute course materials without the written permission of the course instructor. Such materials include, but are not limited to, lecture notes, lecture slides, video and audio recordings, various types of assignments, examinations, other students’ work, and answer keys. In addition, students are not permitted to use materials prepared by faculty or students for courses that have previously taken place. These materials include, but are not limited to, case write-ups, Research Papers, summaries of readings, answers to Problem Sets, and answers to Academic Discussion topics. Furthermore, making video or audio recordings of class sessions for one’s own use without written permission from the instructor is not permitted. Infringements of the above-listed rules are taken seriously and may lead to disciplinary action, including a requirement to withdraw.
WEEKLY CLASS MEETINGS AND SYLLABUS
Additional information can be found on the course website.
Please note: the syllabus may be modified prior to and during a course, including updates to assignments and additional material.